Foldable Chair Assembly

ABSTRACT

A chair assembly includes two first side rods, two second side rods connected pivotally and respectively to the first side rods, and a seating unit including a loop frame connected pivotally to top ends of the first and second side rods, at least three first elastic cords each having two opposite ends respectively retained on the loop frame by two first retaining members, and two second cord units each including at least three second elastic cords each having two opposite ends respectively retained on the loop frame by two second retaining members. The first and second elastic cords are interwoven with each other to define a seating area.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a chair assembly, more particularly to a foldable chair assembly.

2. Description of the Related Art

Referring to FIG. 1, a conventional foldable chair assembly 1 is shown to include a support frame unit 11, and a seating unit 12 mounted on the support frame unit 11. The support frame unit 11 includes a base 111, and a support frame 112 that is mounted on the base 111 and that is foldable. The seating unit 12 includes a seat cushion 121 mounted on the support frame 112. The seat cushion 121 has a bowl-shaped configuration, and includes a plurality of sewing threads 122 that divide the seat cushion 121 into a seating area 123 and a backrest area 124.

Although the support frame 112 of the foldable chair assembly 1 is foldable so as to reduce an overall size of the chair assembly 1, because the seat cushion 121 requires the sewing threads 122 to fix it onto the support frame 112 and to divide it into the seating area 123 and the backrest area 124, the seat cushion 121 is very time-consuming and costly to manufacture. Moreover, the sewing threads 122 fix the shape of the seat cushion 121 so that the size of the seat cushion 121 cannot be further reduced. Hence, an improvement to the structure of the conventional foldable chair assembly 1 is necessary.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a chair assembly that has a simple manufacturing process and that is foldable.

According to this invention, a chair assembly comprises a support frame unit and a seating unit. The support frame unit includes a front leg frame having two spaced-apart first side rods that are inclined upwardly and rearwardly, and a rear leg frame having two second side rods that are inclined upwardly and forwardly and that are connected pivotally and respectively to the first side rods. Each of the second side rods has a length shorter than that of a respective first side rod. The seating unit is mounted on the support frame unit and includes a loop frame, a first cord unit and two second cord units. The loop frame is connected pivotally to top ends of the first and second side rods, and defines an inner space. The first cord unit is disposed within the inner space and includes two first retaining members connected to the loop frame, and at least three first elastic cords extending along a first direction. Each of the first elastic cords has two opposite ends retained on the loop frame by the first retaining members, respectively. The two second cord units are disposed within the inner space. Each of the second cord units includes at least three second elastic cords, and two second retaining members connected to the loop frame. The second elastic cords of one of the second cord units extend along a second direction. The second elastic cords of the other one of the second cord units extend along a third direction. The second and third directions are unparallel to the first direction. Each of the second elastic cords has two opposite ends retained on the loop frame by the second retaining members, respectively. The first elastic cord and the second elastic cords are interwoven with each other to define a seating area.

The beneficial effect of this invention resides in that because the structure of the first and second cord units can be used for sitting and can be connected with the loop frame so that the chair assembly does not have to use sewing threads, a production process thereof can be simplified. Further, through the pivotable structure of the support frame unit, the chair assembly is foldable.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional foldable chair assembly;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a chair assembly according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of the preferred embodiment, illustrating an inner structure of a seating unit;

FIG. 4 is a schematic side view of the preferred embodiment in an unfolded state; and

FIG. 5 is a schematic side view of the preferred embodiment in a folded state.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 2 to 5, a chair assembly 100 according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown to comprise a support frame unit 2, and a seating unit 3 mounted on the support frame unit 3.

The support frame unit 2 includes a front leg frame 21 and a rear leg frame 22 that are made of stainless steel tube and that are connected to each other. The front leg frame 21 has a U-shaped structure, and includes a first crossbar 211, and two first side rods 212 that extend upwardly, rearwardly, inclinedly and respectively from two opposite ends of the first crossbar 211. In this embodiment, each of the first side rods 212 is telescopic. The rear leg frame 22 also has a U-shaped structure, and includes a second crossbar 221, and two second side rods 222 that extend upwardly, forwardly, inclinedly and respectively from two opposite ends of the second crossbar 221. The second side rods 222 are connected pivotally and respectively to the first side rods 212. Each of the second side rods 222 has a length shorter than that of a respective first side rod 212.

The seating unit 3 includes a loop frame 31, a first cord unit 32 and two second cord units 33.

In this embodiment, the loop frame 31 is made of a stainless steel tube, is connected pivotally to top ends of the first and second side rods 212, 222, and defines an inner space 310. The loop frame 31 has a lower front side 301, an upper rear side 302, and left and right sides 303, 304 between the lower front side 301 and the upper rear side 302. The loop frame 31 and the first and second cord units 32, 33 cooperate with each other to form the seating unit 3 into a disc shape.

The first cord unit 32 is disposed within the inner space 310, and includes two first retaining members 321, a plurality of first elastic cords 322 that extend along a first direction 41, and a plurality of first fixing members 323. The first direction 41 extends from a front side to a rear side of the chair assembly 100. The first retaining members 321 are made of rigid plastic materials, and are respectively connected to the front and rear sides 301, 302 of the loop frame 31. Each of the first retaining members 31 is curved to match a curvature of the loop frame 31, and has a plurality of first through holes 320 that correspond to the first elastic cords 322. In this embodiment, there are eight first elastic cords 322, all made of woven elastic cords. In practice, the number of the first elastic cords 322 is not limited to eight, it is suggested that the number of the first elastic cords 322 should not be less than five to ensure sitting comfort, the least should not be less than three. Each of the first elastic cords 322 has two opposite ends retained on the loop frame 31 by the first retaining members 321. The ends of each first elastic cord 322 respectively have a cord head 324 that is larger than a hole diameter of a corresponding first through hole 320. The first fixing members 323 are configured as screws that extend through the corresponding first retaining members 321 and that engage the loop frame 31 so as to fix the first retaining members 321 to the loop frame 31.

The second cord units 33 are disposed within the inner space 310. Each of the second cord units 33 includes two second retaining members 331, a plurality of second elastic cords 332, and a plurality of second fixing members 333. The second elastic cords 332 of one of the second cord units 33 extend along a second direction 42, while the second elastic cords 332 of the other one of the second cord units 33 extend along a third direction 43. The second direction 42 extends toward a left side of the chair assembly 100, and forms an included angle of 70° with the first direction 41. The third direction 43 extends toward a right side of the chair assembly 100, and forms an angle of 70° with the first direction 41. The second retaining members 331 of each second cord unit 33 are respectively disposed on the left and right sides 303, 304 of the loop frame 31. The second retaining members 331 of the second cord units 33 are angularly spaced apart from each other. Since the components and the assembly method of the two second cord units 33 are the same and differ only in the mounting directions, only one of the second cord units 33 will be described below.

The second retaining members 331 of the second cord unit 33 are made of rigid plastic materials, and are connected respectively to the left and right sides 303, 304 of the loop frame 31. Each of the second retaining members 331 is curved to match a curvature of the loop frame 31, and has a plurality of second through holes 330 that correspond to the second elastic cords 332. In this embodiment, there are five second elastic cords 332, all made of woven elastic cords. In practice, the number of the second elastic cords 332 is not limited to five, it is suggested that the number should not be less than three so as to ensure sitting comfort. Each of the second cords 332 has two opposite ends retained on the loop frame 31 by the second retaining members 331. The ends of each second elastic cord 332 respectively have a cord head 334 that is larger than a hole diameter of a corresponding second through hole 330. The second fixing members 333 are configured as screws that extend through the corresponding second retaining members 331 and that engage the loop frame 31 so as to fix the second retaining members 331 to the loop frame 31.

The first elastic cords 322 of the first cord unit 32 and the second elastic cords 332 of the second cord units 33 are interwoven with each other to define a seating area 34 for a user to sit on.

The chair assembly 100 is movable between a folded state and an unfolded state.

With reference to FIG. 5, when the chair assembly 100 is in the folded state, the front and rear leg frames 21, 22 and the seating unit 3 are arranged horizontally. Further, each first side rod 212 is retracted to the shortest length, the second side rods 222 are parallel to the first side rods 212, and the seating unit 3 is close to the first and second side rods 212, 222. At this time, the chair assembly 100 is flat and can be easily stored.

With reference to FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, when the chair assembly 100 is in the unfolded state, the front leg frame 21 and the rear leg frame 22 both extend inclinedly and upwardly. Further, the first side rods 212 are telescopically extended such that the top ends of the first side rods 212 are higher than the top ends of the second side rods 222. Moreover, the seating unit 3 is disposed above the support frame unit 2 in an inclined manner. At this time, a user can sit on the seating area 34 with his/her neck and arms supported by the loop frame 31.

During making and assembling of this embodiment, the first fixing members 323 and the second fixing members 333 are used to fasten fixedly and respectively the first retaining members 321 and the second retaining members 331 to the loop frame 31, so that the disadvantage of a conventional sewing method can be eliminated, thereby simplifying the production process. Further, because the first and second elastic cords 322, 332 are retained on the loop frame 31 by the first and second retaining members 321, 331, respectively, the first and second elastic cords 322, 332 can be used to support a user's body weight during use of the chair assembly 100. Moreover, the seating area 34 can support the user's body weight through the elasticity of the elastic cords 322, 332, and forms a downward depression (not shown) when supporting the user. When not in use, the chair assembly 100 can be shifted from the unfolded state to the folded state to reduce its overall volume. Because the seating unit 3 has a disc shape, it can also be easily stored.

In sum, the chair assembly 100 of the present invention is easy to manufacture and assemble, and has a foldable function. Hence, the object of the present invention can be realized.

While the present invention has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiment but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A chair assembly comprising: a support frame unit including a front leg frame having two spaced-apart first side rods that are inclined upwardly and rearwardly, and a rear leg frame having two second side rods that are inclined upwardly and forwardly and that are connected pivotally and respectively to said first side rods, each of said second side rods having a length shorter than that of a respective said first side rod; and a seating unit mounted on said support frame unit and including a loop frame connected pivotally to top ends of said first and second side rods and defining an inner space, a first cord unit disposed within said inner space and including two first retaining members connected to said loop frame, and at least three first elastic cords extending along a first direction, each of said first elastic cords having two opposite ends retained on said loop frame by said first retaining members, respectively; and two second cord units disposed within said inner space, each of said second cord units including at least three second elastic cords, and two second retaining members connected to said loop frame, said second elastic cords of one of said second cord units extending along a second direction, said second elastic cords of the other one of said second cord units extending along a third direction, said second and third directions being unparallel to said first direction, each of said second elastic cords having two opposite ends retained on said loop frame by said second retaining members, respectively; wherein said first elastic cord and said second elastic cords are interwoven with each other to define a seating area.
 2. The chair assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first cord unit further includes a plurality of first fixing members that fix said first retaining members to said loop frame, and each of said second cord units further includes a plurality of second fixing members that fix said second retaining members to said loop frame.
 3. The chair assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein each of said first and second fixing members is a screw.
 4. The chair assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said first side rods is telescopic.
 5. The chair assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said chair assembly is movable between a folded state, where said front and rear leg frames and said seating unit are arranged horizontally, and an unfolded state, where said front and rear leg frames extend inclinedly and upwardly, said top ends of said first side rods are disposed higher than said top ends of said second side rods, and said seating unit is disposed above said support frame unit.
 6. The chair assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second and third directions intersect each other.
 7. The chair assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said loop frame has a lower front side, an upper rear side, and left and right sides between said lower front side and said upper rear side, said first retaining members being respectively disposed on said lower front side and said upper rear side, said second retaining members of each of said second cord units being respectively disposed on said left and right sides, said second retaining members of said second cord units being angularly spaced apart from each other, said seating area being proximate to said lower front side and being distal to said upper rear side. 